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Style Inspiration

This is what one art director recommends you do. And think about it. Men wear the same thing everyday. I mean essentially they do. Any office employee or businessman will have an assortment of the same items in his closet; dark shoes, dark pants, button down shirts, tie. Simple. The only thing I’ve ever heard considered is whether anything is wrinkled or not and with the invention of the anti-wrinkle shirt even that frustration has been lost. Manual laborers do the same. Why wear a different pair of work boots everyday just to ruin them too? Why change pants when you’ll be hanging the same drywall you did yesterday?

In an article appearing in Harper’s Bazaar, Matilda Kahl explains…

“About three years ago, I had one of those typical Monday mornings that many women have experienced. With a fairly important meeting on the horizon, I started to try on different outfits, lacking any real direction or plan. As an art director at one of the leading creative advertising agencies in New York, I’m given complete freedom over what I wear to the office, but that still left me questioning each piece that I added or subtracted from my outfit. “Is this too formal? Is that too out there? Is this dress too short?” I finally chose something I regretted as soon as I hit the subway platform.”

Been there.

“The thought of reclaiming the driver’s seat can feel overwhelming, but even small changes can make a huge difference. The simple choice of wearing a work uniform has saved me countless wasted hours thinking, “what the hell am I going to wear today?” And in fact, these black trousers and white blouses have become an important daily reminder that frankly, I’m in control.”

Just think about what else you could be thinking about instead of what you’re wearing. Now this may seem antithetical on a primarily fashion obsessed blog but in fact it’s not. There are countless editors who have adopted the idea of a uniform. Often dismissed as “oh, she always wears black” I believe it is actually a woman’s response to the men’s suit. It’s not boring, it’s professional and, like schoolchildren, a uniform allows you to concentrate on the important things like say… your job?

Take the 3 piece dresser Emmanuelle Alt…

Or the 2 piece favorite Capucine Safyurtlu…

There is no question of matching or “does this go”. Just dark pants, top or button down, and a blazer or not depending on the weather and the day’s agenda. Add a walkable heel and you’re done. Their outfits are so similar day to day it took me a couple of checks to make sure I wasn’t using the same photo twice.

Another area where men don’t have to worry is their hair. You won’t hear them crying in the bathroom because their bangs just won’t lay right or spending hours in the salon chair debating a new color wash. No. Emmanuelle and Capucine know this and so does Anna Wintour, arguably the most powerful woman in fashion. She has had the same do since the 70’s…

Her look is so iconic, she is clearly recognizable even from the back…

Think of it this way. Having a signature hairstyle is an area where men cannot compete! No one will ever see a man’s hairstyle as iconic or recognizable. They are, for the most part, interchangeable. Invest in the right cut and color and stick with it. Just remember to re-evaluate every ten years.

Like Matilda, I too am given complete freedom over what I wear to work. Lest you think I don’t practice what I preach. This is what I look like every single day…

I wear the same hairstyle, zip up, usually minus the stain from my morning smoothie, track pants, and sneakers. Like Matilda I have multiples of everything and I put my hair in a bun and don’t wear makeup because it’s another time waster. That’s right I appear in public every day sans brows. Doing my hair and makeup takes about an hour. How much more could you get done if you got to work an hour earlier everyday? Or if punctuality still isn’t your thing, imagine how good an extra hour under the heated blanket would be?

If you’re still unsure of the reaction you’ll get or how you’ll feel about wearing the same thing everyday, start with the same jewelry, then the same shoes, carry the same bag, then wear the same blazer, then buy a couple of your favorite pants.

Lastly, my bun has become my unintentional “look”. Recently, when I was picking my mother up late at night she said she was unsure it was my car and didn’t want to approach until she saw the silhouette of my bun in the driver’s seat. Like it or not there ya go. A potential kidnapping avoided due to a signature look.